Comparative Overview of Immigrant Experiences Under the Biden and Trump Administrations

Background: Immigrants constitute 15% of the U.S. population and are projected to represent 25% by 2050. Immigrant experiences are influenced by a multitude of factors, including federal policies, which shift with changing administrations. For example, stress and discrimination associated with more stringent immigration policies have been found to correlate with poorer mental health status. Yet, little is known about the comparative experiences of immigrants under the two most recent presidents, both of whom maintained a heavy focus on immigration during their campaigns and initial days in office.

Method: Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 1^st and 2^nd generation immigrants under both the Trump (n=490) and Biden (n=306) administrations. Sampling for each survey included non-probability quota and convenience techniques. Survey questions inquired about immigration-policy stress (modified version of Perceived Stress Scale), discrimination (Everyday Discrimination Scale, Resilience (Brief Resilience Scale), and border stress (Border Stress Scale). To examine patterns under each administration, frequencies and means are examined by demographic characteristics under each federal administration.

Results: Just over half (51.75%) of participants were 1^st generation under Trump and 49% under Biden. For policy-related stress, race/ethnicity significantly correlated with policy-related stress under Trump, with White participants having lower scores compared to Black (M=6.00 compared to M=9.05; p<0.001). Women were also found to have less policy-related stress under Trump (M=19.63 compared to M=24.83; p<0.001). Neither race nor gender was significant under Biden. For discrimination, White participants reported less perceived discrimination compared to Black/African American participants (M=15.94 compared to M=33.72; p<0.001). Women reported lower perceived discrimination compared to men under both Trump (M=19.63 compared to M=24.83; p<0.001) and Biden (M=21.53 compared to M=24.03; p<0.05), though race/ethnicity was not significant under Biden. In terms of resilience, White participants had higher scores compared to Black/African American participants (M=20.89 compared to M=17.74; p<0.05), though race/ethnicity was not significant under Biden. Finally, border stress was lower among women than men under both Trump (M=43.80 compared to M=50.66; p<0.001) and Biden (M=35.47 compared to M=39.30; p<0.05). For race/ethnicity, White participants had lower border stress than Black/African American participants (M=36.75 compared to M=70.36; <0.001) under Trump, though race/ethnicity was not significant under Biden.

Implications and Conclusion: Findings expand upon previous literature that highlights stress associated with exclusionary immigration policies, which were more prevalent under the Trump administration. In this more stringent context, non-white immigrants may be disproportionately vulnerable to policy-related stress and perceived discrimination, each of which elevates risk for poorer mental health and well-being. Service providers can assess for stress and discrimination, being cognizant of the heightened risks to non-White immigrants. Social workers should also engage in policy advocacy to reduce the burden placed on immigrants of color in exclusionary policy contexts.